KESTANE (Castanea Sativa) BALI ÖRNEKLERİNİN BOTANİK ORİJİNLERİNİN DOĞRULANMASI VE TOPLAM POLEN SAYILARI

In this study, it was aimed to detect the botanical origins by palynological analysis and to determine the total pollen numbers of honey samples collected from different locations of Zonguldak, Turkey. In addition, the compatibility of the collected honey samples with the pollen content criterion given for the chestnut honey samples by the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Honey (No: 2020/7) has been discussed. As a result of melissopalynological analyzes, honey samples were labeled as chestnut honey (n = 7), mixed flower honey (n = 2) and astragalus honey (n = 1). Total pollen number in 10 g of honey the samples (TPS-10) identified as chestnut honey was detected to be between 41722 - 647312, and it was determined that these honey samples were very good, good, and normal quality honey samples. In addition, the results obtained showed that 33% of honey samples collected as chestnut honey did not provide the minimum pollen content reported for unifloral honey types with chestnut floral origin in the national food codex. These results showed how important it is to make floral origin determination mandatory for unifloral honey types such as chestnut, which is sold at a higher price compared to other polyfloral flower honeys in our country, in terms of preventing unfair competition. For this reason, it is important to determine the pollen content values by conducting melissopalynological studies for different types of unifloral flower honey such as lavender and black seed, which are produced in our country but whose minimum pollen content is not specified in the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Honey (No: 2020/7).